Strong EU methane regulations for imported gas can slash methane pollution globally

The Clean Air Task Force analysis suggests that an EU import standard for oil and gas could reduce over 30% of global methane emissions from the oil and gas sector, which is 20 times more effective than regulating domestic EU production alone. The briefing proposes a methane intensity threshold of 1.7 kilotonnes of methane emitted per million tonnes of oil equivalent (MTOE) to ensure a fair playing field for both oil and gas producers. Implementing this standard could save 90 billion cubic meters of gas, equivalent to nearly Germany's annual consumption, and generate €55 billion in total savings for exporting and EU-based producing countries.

• Implementing an EU import standard for oil and gas could reduce more than 30% of global methane emissions from the oil and gas sector, which accounts for 7% of all man-made global emissions. This would represent 20% of the progress needed to meet the Global Methane Pledge by 2030.
• An import standard is estimated to be 20 times more effective at reducing methane emissions than a regulation that only covers oil and gas production within the EU, because the EU imports 97% of its oil and 90% of its gas.
• The Clean Air Task Force recommends a methane intensity threshold of 1.7 kilotonnes (kt) of methane emitted per million tonnes of oil equivalent (MTOE). This energy-based metric is proposed as an alternative to the 0.2% volume-based target considered by the European Parliament, which the authors argue would produce unrealistically high values for oil-producing companies.
• The proposed import standard could save 90 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas, a volume nearly equal to Germany's yearly consumption (94 bcm). This would result in €54 billion in savings for exporting partner countries and €1 billion for oil and gas producers within the EU.

APA

Sosa, Z. T., & Feldman, L. (2023). Strong EU methane regulations for imported gas can slash methane pollution globally. Clean Air Task Force. https://www.catf.us/2023/10/strong-eu-methane-regulations-imported-gas-slash-methane-reductions-globally/

Chicago

Sosa, Zitely Tzompa, and Lesley Feldman. Strong EU methane regulations for imported gas can slash methane pollution globally. Clean Air Task Force, 2023. https://www.catf.us/2023/10/strong-eu-methane-regulations-imported-gas-slash-methane-reductions-globally/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Sosa |first1=Zitely Tzompa |last2=Feldman |first2=Lesley |title=Strong EU methane regulations for imported gas can slash methane pollution globally |publisher=Clean Air Task Force |date=9 October 2023 |url=https://www.catf.us/2023/10/strong-eu-methane-regulations-imported-gas-slash-methane-reductions-globally/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{sosa2023strong, author = {Sosa, Zitely Tzompa and Feldman, Lesley}, title = {{Strong EU methane regulations for imported gas can slash methane pollution globally}}, institution = {Clean Air Task Force}, year = {2023}, month = oct, url = {https://www.catf.us/2023/10/strong-eu-methane-regulations-imported-gas-slash-methane-reductions-globally/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }